Coaling locomotives and chute therefor



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. C. GORHAM 8v W. BARTLETT.

GQALING LOGOMOTIVES AND CHUTE THEREFOR.

No. 259,529. Paiencegd June 13,1882.

, INVBNTOR @M BY Y um ATTORNEYS.

CGALING LGQMOTIVES AND CHUTE THEREFOR.

No. 259,529. l j Patented June 13, 1882.v

(No Model.)

WITNES INVBNToR-y zf% ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CORNELIUS GORHAM, OF DE SOTO, AND WINTHROP BARTLETT, OF ST. LOUIS,MISSOURI.

COALING LOCOIVIOTIVES AND CHUTE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,529, dated June 13,1682.

Application filed April 27, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that we, CoENELrUs GOEHAM, ofDe Soto, in the county of Jefferson and State of Missouri, and WINTHROPBARrLErT,of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coaling Locomotives andChutes Therefor, of which the following is a fuli,clear, and exactdescription.

Reference is to bc had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specitication, in which similarletters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l represents a side view of a portable coal-chute constructed inaccordance with our invention and showing by full and dotted lines thechute in different positions. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is asectional elevation of certain tracks, storage-platforms, and chute inposition for coaling a locomotive in accordance with our invention. Fig.Ltis a sectional elevation in part ofthe samein a plane at right anglesto Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a partly-sectional front view of thedeliveryend ot' the chute with means for securing said end when closed.

The objects of our invention are to facilitate the coaling oflocomotives and to econoinize the handling of the coal for such purpose,to ena ble the fireman of a locomotive to coal it without the assistanceot additional labor, to reduce the irst cost of constructing coal chutesand platforms, and to provide a large storage capacity for each chute.

To these and other ends the invention consists in a portable coal-chutemounted upon a truck and of peculiar construction, with facility ofbeing tilted to discharge its load, the same forming a complete articleof manufacture, which may be readily shipped for use; and the inventionfurthermore consists in certain arrangements of tracks, storageplatforms, and other means or devices, whereby the loading and unloading of saidchute is facilitated, and the objects hereinbefore sought to be attainedare secured.

In the drawings, A A indicate any desired number of storage-platformsfor the coal arranged parallel with one another ata suitable elevationfor coaling purposes above the main track B of a line of railroad. Thesestorageplattorms are arranged at suitable distances apart for a seriesof interposed side or inclined tracks, C, leading up to them orsufficiently below them to allow ot' coal being delivered onto them fromtrucks D. Said platforms A A are arranged parallel with the main trackand ot' any desired length and width, but, as hereinbefore specified,above it, and have tracks E E upon and across them for the portablechute G to run upon. These tracks may be connected by bridge-rails F,where they are interrupted by the depressed intersecting side tracks, C,to provide for runnin g the chute from one storageplatforrn to another,for the purpose of loading said chute with coal.

In Fig. 3 a locomotive, H, is represented in position on the main trackB, for receiving coal from the portable 'chute G at the delivery end ofone of the tracks E.

The chute G is constructed as follows: I is a frame suspended by meansot proper boxes on the axles of two pairs of wheels, J- J, the wholeforming a truck, upon A which the chute rests. This truck is arranged torun upon either track E, arranged upon or crossing the storage-platformsA A. Secured on the frame I of the truck, upon each of its oppositesides, is a block, K. Each of these blocks is provided inits uppersurface with asuitably-constructed concave recess or bearing, b, toreceive within it a rocker-arm, c, of cylindrical construction, withside arms or projections on its lower portion. These rocker-arms-thatis,one on either sideare connected with the floor of thebody of the chute,and support said. body and pro vide for the tilting of it endwise on thebearings b as a base.

The body G ot" the chuteis ot' tapering construction in direction ofitslength. The larger .end is provided with an apron, L, hinged below tothe tioor of the body, and serving when raised to close said end, butbeing capable ot' being lowered to the position shown for it by dottedlines in Figs. l and 3, to providev for discharging the coal from thechute. When the apron L is raised and the chute is in the positionrepresented by full lines in Fig. 1 said chute G is loaded with coalandis pushed to the delivery side of the platform A or dis- IOO chargingend of the track E on the platform upon which it travels. Said chute,having its larger end foremost, is then tilted or inclined `upon thebearings b of its rocker-arms c by means of a lever or levers, M,inserted within keepers d on its sides to the position represented bydotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position it remains until it is desiredto deliver the coal to a locomotive. The apron L should be kept closeduntil it is required to deliver the coal, to prevent the coal fromrunning out, and is secured in this position by a bolt or latch, N,shown in detail in Fig. 5. By raising the latch the weight of the coalforces the apron L open or down to the position represented for it bydotted lines in Figs. l and 3, when it constitutes a spout-extension ofthe chute, through which the coal passes from the body of the chute tothe tender. After the coal has been discharged from the chute the apronL is returned to its raised or closed position by weights O, suspendedby chains e, in upright tubes or boxes P, extending upward on eitherside of the chute, each of said chains passing over a pulley, f, andbeing attached at its outer end to the upper portion of the apron, whichthus is balanced or made self-closing. As the apronV L is thus closed itstrikes against the beveled nose of the bolt or latch N and forces itup, and then passes under the latch, which, falling down, holds theapron closed.

To secnrethe dropping down of the latch over the apron a weight, g, ishung upon the lever Q, by which, through a rope or chain, h, the latchis raised by the fireman on the tender when it is required to deliverthe coal thereto from the chute.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. The method herein described of coalinglocomotives by means of a portable chute hung to rock or tilt upon atruck by which it is carried, coalin g-platformshavin g a track ortracks for the truck portion of the chute to run upon, and intersectinginclined tracks for conveying the coal to the platforms, said inclinedtracks and platformtracks being arranged atahigher elevation than themain track, essentially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the main track B, of the coaling-platforms A A,the tracks E E, arranged upon or crossing said platforms, thebridge-rails F, and one or more intersecting inclined tracks, C,substantially as and for the purpose herein set for-th.

3. The coaling-chute G, constructed cfa box or body part having a hingedapron, L, arranged to form, when raised, a closed end to said body, and,when lowered, a delivery-spout or extension of said chute, and a truckupon which the body of the chute is mounted with freedom to rockendwise, substantially as shown and described.

4. The body G ot' the chute, supported by rocker-arms c in bearings I)on or in a truck by which said body is carried, in combination with theapron L, hinged below to said body, and made self-closing when relievedfrom the weight of coal on its interior surface, essentiallyas hereinset forth. i

5. The combination of the self-closinglatch N with its attachedoperating-lever Q, and the hinged apron L at the end of the chute, foroperation in relation with each other, substantially as hereindescribed.

CORNELIUS GORHAM. y VINTHROP BARTLETT.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. HAwKINs, Jas. O. FRENCH.

